Category Archives: NFL Playoffs

With the new season upon us, what better time than now to talk about the playoffs? There are 31 fan bases across the country full of high hopes that their favorite team will make the playoffs. For New England fans, it’s become basically an annual occurrence, so they probably aren’t too concerned. Enjoy it while…

In this highly-anticipated AFC Championship match-up between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots, we will see two of the most high-powered offenses from this past season clash in a game which will determine who makes the journey to Super Bowl 51. Beyond that, there are several factors that will shape this game. Here…

Past performance does not guarantee future results. It’s also extremely tough to compare NFL teams across seasons because each season is its own story. But in order to lend another layer of context to this weekend’s games, I took a look at each conference championship team since 2002 (the 32-team era) and compared them by…

Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, and Matt Ryan are one of the best collections of quarterbacks to ever play in the Conference Championship round of the NFL playoffs. There is no doubt. You have arguably the best signal-caller of all-time at the helm of the most successful franchise of the last 15 years, one…

Punters don’t win MVP. To see just how little the NFL thinks of punters, look no further than the Hall of Fame, where only one punter, Ray Guy, is currently enshrined. Part of this stems from general laziness on the part of voters, as the metrics required to truly understand the value in punters require…

The Carolina Panthers number one ranked offense rolled into Super Bowl 50, but they came to a grinding halt against the Denver Broncos defense. The dust has settled and the MVP has been crowned, but what could have been done differently? Ted Nguyen looks at three plays Mike Shula should have called. Although the Carolina…

The final score of 24-10 suggests a decisive victory for the Denver Broncos, but the box score indicates a closer game, and one where many statistics tilted in favor of the losing Carolina Panthers. Dave Archibald explores the hidden game of Super Bowl 50. The Panthers outgained the Broncos significantly, 315 yards to 194, tallied…

Super Bowl 50 features the Carolina Panthers against the Denver Broncos. Ted Nguyen looks at the Broncos offense versus the Panthers defense, and what will happen when Denver has the ball, in part 2 of his game preview. Though the Carolina offense often outshines their defensive counterparts, the Panthers defense has played well themselves this season, finishing the…

Super Bowl 50 features the Carolina Panthers against the Denver Broncos. Ted Nguyen looks at the Panthers offense versus the Broncos defense, and what will happen when Carolina has the ball, in part 1 of his game preview. The overwhelming public opinion says the Panthers are going to dominate the Broncos in Super Bowl 50 on Sunday. After…

The Carolina Panthers punt coverage team, centered around big-leg punter Brad Nortman, appears pedestrian by most statistical measures. Chuck Zodda looks at how box score scouting can be affected by one big mistake from the Panthers punt unit. Brad Nortman ranked just 18th in gross average and 17th in net average this season. The Panthers…

In preparation for the Super Bowl, Inside the Pylon’s editors have compiled everything we have on the Carolina Panthers defense. Rolling Coverage From: NFL Preview Week 3: NFC South Rivals Carolina And New Orleans by Dave Archibald The Panthers had a solid pass defense in 2014, ranking 12th in the NFL in opponent yards per attempt, but…

In preparation for the Super Bowl, Inside the Pylon’s editors have compiled everything we have on the Denver Broncos defense. Blitzing From: Turnover Battle Week 1: Denver Tops Baltimore by Dave Archibald Denver got its revenge late in the third quarter with a clever blitz of its own. On 3rd-and-6 at the Baltimore 45 the Broncos sent six…

In preparation for the Super Bowl, Inside the Pylon‘s editors have compiled everything we have on the Denver Broncos offense. Quality Receivers From: Fantasy Matchup: Broncos Passing Attack and Packers Defense by Dave Archibald Manning has the understanding of defenses to capitalize on this Green Bay weakness, and in big-bodied Thomas and the speedy Sanders, he has the kind…

In preparation for the Super Bowl, Inside the Pylon‘s editors have compiled everything we have on the Carolina Panthers offense. Spread Run Offense From: Carolina’s Run/Pass Option: QB Sweep For The Win by Ted Nguyen The Panthers’ spread-run offense has attracted a lot of attention because of the team’s incredible success. No NFL rushing attack in…

The Denver Broncos formidable defense was even better than advertised against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. However, careful review of the film – and some help from Tom E. Curran – shows that they were receiving help from an unlikely source. Philip Kibbey explains how Bryan Stork was tipping the snap on…